FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, ILL. — L3 Corp. has arranged the lease of a 28,000-square-foot retail space in Fairview Heights. Fresh Thyme Markets will occupy space within the Fairview Heights City Centre located at 6569 N. Illinois St. Fresh Thyme Markets leased the space from Fairview Heights 881 Fee LLC. L3 Corp. represented the tenant in the transaction.
CHICAGO — @properties Commercial has arranged two retail leases at Westport Commons Shopping Center in Chicago’s Ashburn neighborhood. Westport Commons Shopping Center is located at 3302 W. 87th St. Greg Stein of Bialow Real Estate represented fashion retailer VILLA in a 10-year lease for 5,000 square feet of space. Todd Cabanban of Cabanban Rubin and Mayberry Commercial Realty represented Simply Fashions in a five-year lease for 3,500 square feet. The 180,000-square-foot shopping center is 96 percent leased. Mike Rourke of @properties Commercial represented Westport Associates LP in the two retail leases.
WIXOM, MICH. — Newmark Grubb Knight Frank (NGKF) has arranged the lease of a 117,709-square-foot manufacturing facility in Wixom. ATW Automation Inc. is relocating its Michigan manufacturing facility from 12841 Stark Road in Livonia, Mich., to this facility located at 31077 Durr Drive. The Ontario-based company designs and builds factory automation solutions. Anthony Avendt, Rob Renaud and Cam Graham of NGKF represented ATW in the lease. The building is situated on more than 12 acres and includes 27,800-square-feet of office and administrative space. ATW will take occupancy of the new facility immediately and is currently working with the city of Wixom to rename the street in honor of its long-term commitment to the community and its clients.
MONROE, OHIO — Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corp. has acquired a new 232,200-square-foot industrial building in Monroe for $13.4 million. The build-to-suit property is located at 201 Exploration Drive, and is net leased to UGN Inc., a supplier of parts for the Japanese automotive industry, for 15 years. The building is situated on more than 22 acres and is expandable by an additional 155,000 square feet. The Class A industrial facility is located off I-75 and is in close proximity to Honda and Toyota’s U.S. headquarters.
ROUND LAKE BEACH, ILL. — Lee & Associates has arranged the $12.7 million sale and purchase of an 87,000-square-foot Kohl’s store located at 230 E. Rollins in Round Lake Beach. Al Apuzzo of Lee & Associates – North San Diego County represented the buyer, Nipoti LLC, which purchased the property as part of a 1031 exchange. Ryan Barr and Ryan Bennett of Lee & Associates – North San Diego County, and founders of Barr & Bennett Net Leased Investment Group, represented the seller, Cadillac-Sand Realty LLC. The buyer plans to hold the property indefinitely. Kohl’s has more than 10 years left on its lease.
EVANSTON, ILL. — The Dow Hotel Co. (DHC) has completed the $8.6 million renovation of the 269-room, Hilton Orrington/Evanston. The hotel is located at 1710 Orrington Ave., just north of Chicago in the North Shore district. All guest rooms and baths were completely renovated to include new carpeting, televisions, furniture, lighting, beds, bedding, showers and tiling. The hotel’s 12,000-square-foot conference center, as well as its additional 20,000 square feet of meeting space, which includes the famous Grand Orrington Ballroom, were also upgraded with new furniture, art and carpeting. The hotel public space also was reconfigured to create new private dining areas as well as new carpeting and lighting. DHC and The Carlyle Group’s Carlyle Realty Partners VI own the hotel. DHC will also operate the property. DHC is a hotel owner/investor and operator.
CHICAGO — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the $3.6 million sale of 1400 S. Michigan Ave., an 8,260-square-foot retail property in Chicago. The property sold at 92 percent of its original list price. Located in Chicago’s South Loop, the multitenant retail property is situated on the ground floor of a 455-unit luxury condominium tower. Tenants at the property include Waffles Chicago, Square One Bar and Sanctuary Music & Aesthetics audio design solutions. Sean Sharko, Alan Katamanin and Austin Weisenbeck of Marcus & Millichap’s Chicago Oak Brook office represented the seller and the buyer, both limited liability companies.
The retail market as a whole is shifting to make shopping more experiential amid a recovering economy and the influence of millennials and their shopping demands and interests. Despite the buzz about the popularity of online shopping, less than 10 percent of all retail sales take place via the Internet. According to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), online retail sales in 2013 were nearly $263 billion, accounting for a mere 6 percent of total retail sales. In-store sales accounted for the remaining $4.3 trillion, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. It’s clear that while some consumers find online shopping convenient, the majority still prefer the shopping center experience. In particular, millennials, who are 74 million strong with a buying power of $174 billion, demand that experience. Last fall, Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group forecast that 89 percent of millennials would shop at a mall over the holidays. Surprisingly, millennials use technology to conduct research about products, but they generally prefer to visit stores to make purchases. Millennials will read product reviews online but they want to touch the merchandise, feel it, experience it and then tweet about it to friends. So, while the entire shopping process revolves around technology, …
LANCASTER, OHIO — Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp. (MMCC) has arranged $5.2 million in financing for Muirwood Apartments, a 256-unit multifamily property in Lancaster. The 20-year loan includes a 20-year amortization schedule and a 4.3 percent fixed interest rate. Noah Juran of MMCC’s Cincinnati office arranged the loan for the undisclosed borrower. Michael Barron, Joshua Wintermute and Dan Burkons of Marcus & Millichap’s Cleveland office, and Richard Lattro and Jordan Marshall in the firm’s Columbus office, facilitated the transaction.
CHICAGO — @properties Commercial has brokered the $4.6 million sale of a three-story property at 630 W. Lake St., in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. Located on the northeast corner of Lake and Des Plaines streets, the property features a 12,000-square-foot timber loft building including a basement, a 6,500-square-foot one-story warehouse annex and a 1,500-square-foot parking lot. Grand Stage Lighting Co. currently occupies the property, but is in the process of relocating. Chicago-based Windy City RE LLC purchased the property and plans to redevelop it into a mixed-use residential and retail building. Michael Weber and Ian Feinerman of @properties Commercial represented the seller, Tybec LLC.